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How underpaid are teachers, compared to the Massachusetts average?

New report attempts to compare entry-level teacher salaries to state averages

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Updated: 9:29 AM EDT Sep 5, 2019

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How underpaid are teachers, compared to the Massachusetts average?

New report attempts to compare entry-level teacher salaries to state averages

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Updated: 9:29 AM EDT Sep 5, 2019

Massachusetts schools may be among the best in the nation, but a recent report finds entry-level teachers in the Bay State are paid far less than other residents. To create their ranking of teacher salaries in all 50 states and Washington D.C., authors at Business.org said they collected data on starting salaries from the National Education Association and information on average wages from the Bureau of Labor Statistics. They found that starting salaries for teachers in Massachusetts averages $45,498, which is 28.8% lower than the average amount earned by residents of the Commonwealth. Nationally, the report found that starting salaries for teachers were an average of 21.8% below the average wages in each state. "Teachers’ wages in each state also say a lot about the priorities of the state," the authors of the report wrote. "After all, it’s reasonable to assume that teachers will earn more in areas where education is a high priority and their experience is valued." The disparity between starting wages for teachers and average statewide wages was smallest in Louisiana, where the difference was 5.5%. It was largest in Colorado, where new teachers earn 40% less than the average income. The authors of the report admit their methodology does not account for the quality of benefits offered, the number of available teaching opportunities, pay scales for experienced teachers or compensation for those who have advanced degrees. In July, a different report found Massachusetts has the best public schools in the nation.

BOSTON —

Massachusetts schools may be among the best in the nation, but a recent report finds entry-level teachers in the Bay State are paid far less than other residents.

To create their ranking of teacher salaries in all 50 states and Washington D.C., authors at Business.org said they collected data on starting salaries from the National Education Association and information on average wages from the Bureau of Labor Statistics.

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They found that starting salaries for teachers in Massachusetts averages $45,498, which is 28.8% lower than the average amount earned by residents of the Commonwealth. Nationally, the report found that starting salaries for teachers were an average of 21.8% below the average wages in each state.

"Teachers’ wages in each state also say a lot about the priorities of the state," the authors of the report wrote. "After all, it’s reasonable to assume that teachers will earn more in areas where education is a high priority and their experience is valued."

The disparity between starting wages for teachers and average statewide wages was smallest in Louisiana, where the difference was 5.5%. It was largest in Colorado, where new teachers earn 40% less than the average income.

The authors of the report admit their methodology does not account for the quality of benefits offered, the number of available teaching opportunities, pay scales for experienced teachers or compensation for those who have advanced degrees.

In July, a different report found Massachusetts has the best public schools in the nation.